Jeep CJ2A Story

The Willys CJ2A, the first mass-produced Jeep intended
for the civilian market, began production on July 17, 1945. Most people
know that civilian Jeeps evolved from the model MB of World War Two fame, but
few realise that the CJ2A had two civilian ancestors: The CJ-1 and the
CJ-2. By 1944, the Allies were confident the war would be won. This
allowed Willys to consider designing a Jeep for the post-war civilian
market. Documentation is hard to come by, but it seems that a CJ-1 (for
"Civilian Jeep-1") was running by May of that year. The CJ-1 was
apparently an MB that had been modified by adding a tailgate, drawbar, and a
civilian-style canvas top. None of the CJ-1s built have survived, and it
is not known (at this writing) how many were built.

The CJ-2s, also known as "AgriJeeps", were a further evolution of the design
and appeared sometime in 1944 or 1945. They had tailgates,
Power Take-offs ("PTO"s), engine governors, column-shift T90 transmissions, 5.38
gears, 2.43:1 low-range transfer cases, and driver's-side tool
indentations. The earlier models had brass plaques on the bonnet and
windscreen that read "JEEP". Later models were stamped "JEEP" a la the
familiar "WILLYS" stamping that appeared on the CJ-2A and later models.
Some CJ-2s had "AgriJeep" plaques affixed to the dash. The spare tyre was
mounted forward of the passenger-side rear wheel on the earlier models and aft
of the rear wheel on later ones. It seems that CJ-2s were distributed to
"agricultural stations" for evaluation purposes. Of the 45 CJ-2s built,
serial numbers CJ2-09, CJ2-11, CJ2-12, CJ2-32, CJ2-37 and CJ2-39 have
survived. Only CJ2-09 has been restored. *

2 March, 2001:Todd Paisley e-mailed the
following information about other CJ-2s that have been discovered:
"CJ2-06 is in Massachussets. CJ2-14 is currently in PA (I am using it
to duplicate some parts for CJ2-12) but someone from Colorado bought it.
Fred Coldwell of Denver owns CJ2-26." So it looks as if nine
of the CJ-2s have been accounted for. There was a question about the
existence of CJ2-39. If it actually has not been discovered, then there
are eight.

The CJ2A marked a noticeable change in the appearance of the
Jeep. The MB had recessed headlights and nine-slot grilles. The CJ2A
had larger headlights flush-mounted in a seven-slot grille. The headlight
trim rings, which were body-colour, (Harvest Tan or Pasture Green) became chrome
with CJ2A s/n 38687 in 1946. The T-84 transmission, which was considered
weak, was replaced by the stronger T-90. The earlier CJ2As had column
shifts -- "Three on the Tree" -- until it was changed to the floor shift on s/n
38221. But it was still powered by the reliable 134 cubic inch, 60
horsepower "Go-Devil" engine.

Extra equipment for the new civilian Jeep, now called the "Universal Jeep"
(or later, the "Jeep Universal") was a King-Seeley governor, Monarch governor,
rear PTO, front PTO, pulley drive (front and rear), canvas body enclosure
("top"), metal body enclosure, capstan winch, 265-pound front bumper weight to
equalize the load on the wheels, heavy-duty springs, and pintle hooks. The
PTO could power a large assortment of equipment including the capstan winch,
hydraulic lift, mower, discer, bailers, generators, welders, cultivators, plows,
field cutter, harvesters, grain separators, saws, post-hole augers, and other
farm and industrial gear. According to an early brochure, the Jeep could
"pull a 5,500 pound load on the highway at a good speed." Much was made in
the early advertising about the versatility of the "four vehicles in one"
Jeep. "Now it's a Truck... Now it's a Tractor... Now it's a Runabout...
Now it's a Mobile Power Unit" **

Colour options were limited in 1945 and the first half of 1946: Harvest
Tan or Pasture Green. For the rest of the CJ2A's production life, there
were seven additional colours: Harvard Red, Michigan Yellow, Princeton
Black, Picket Grey, Luzon Red, Normandy Blue and Olive Drab. Emerald Green
was also available in 1948. For examples of these colours, see the Paint Chips Page.***

214,760 Willys CJ2As were produced between 1945 and 1949. It was
produced concurrently with the model CJ3A in 1949, but at a much reduced
pace. Only 2,182 CJ2As were produced that year -- about one tenth of the
CJ3A production in 1949.

CJ2A Production Numbers *

1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

1,824 71,554 65,078 74,122
2,182

30 July, 2001. Fred Coldwell sends corrections to
this page. He is writing a book on preproduction civilian jeeps.

"I have not yet heard about CJ2-39, and was not aware someone claims it
exists. No one has mentioned it to me yet, but of course that doesn't
affect whether or not it actually exists. Who claims to have seen
it? [Jim Allen mentions s/n CJ2-39 in his book JeepIllustrated
Buyer's Guide. -- JW]

I know of eight preproduction jeeps that exist as of today. Five are
the pilot model CJ-2 that has the cast bronze name plates and the spare tire
mounted just behind the passenger entry: CJ2-06, CJ2-09, CJ2-11, CJ2-12 and
CJ2-14. Three are preproduction model CJ-2s that have the stamped
JEEP name and the spare tire mounted at the right rear corner: CJ2-26, CJ2-32
and CJ2-37."